This past winter was a long one. With COVID still a problem in so many places, many of us wondered if we were in store for yet another spring and summer of mask wearing and social distancing. But with summer on our doorstep, it looks like things are getting back to normal. That means getting out and about to get some Vitamin D the old fashioned way. It also may mean getting geared to enable your adventures.
We would like to issue a challenge to any of our readers who still purchase single-use alkaline batteries: make this the summer you switch to rechargeable batteries instead. Make this the year you join us in our efforts to eliminate single-use batteries altogether and forever.
Single-use alkaline batteries were once the only game in town. Back then, they met a very real need, and they met that need well. But in 2022, we are fully in the ‘lithium-ion age’ and have much better options than alkaline. USB-C rechargeable batteries with onboard battery management systems are helping people make the change once and for all.
The truth of the matter is that the alkaline battery's day has passed. It is time for us to say goodbye, good riddance, and move on.
We get the fact that you may be holding onto single-use batteries because they are all you have ever used. They work well enough, and you don't see a reason to change how you do things. If that's the case, we would like to offer an alternative point of view.
Switching to lithium-ion batteries produces tangible benefits. They may not be apparent; you might have to look a little bit to see them, but they are there. In fact, here is just a brief sampling:
Most battery chemistries (including alkaline and NiMH) have voltages that drop as you use them. This can affect your product performance and may also result in you discarding them before you got to use up their full theoretical capacity. Li-ion has a higher natural voltage, which can be stepped down to 1.5V and held steady and stable for your most common household battery form factors such as AA, AAA, C and D.
All of us produce an individual waste stream that feeds into the global stream now strangling the Earth. Saying goodbye to single-use batteries is a very visible and tangible way to reduce the size of your stream. Paleblue Li-ion USB-C rechargeable batteres are rated 1,000 recharges, potentially replacing many alkaline batteries. That is a lot less battery waste, not to mention packaging as well.
Untold millions of alkaline batteries wind up in landfills every year. That number could actually be in the billions, depending on the statistics you trust. But whether it is millions or billions, imagine how much landfill space we could save if we stopped using alkaline batteries. You can do your part and enjoy a little extra peace of mind as a result.
Portable electronics like digital cameras, portable music players, and hand-held fans consume electricity at a fairly quick rate. This summer, you might find yourself buying multiple packs of alkaline batteries in different form factors. Go rechargeable and you will actually spend less money. Remember that a lithium-ion battery can be charged 1000+ times. You spend less by buying fewer units.
Switching to rechargeable batteries sets a good example for others to follow. Let people know you are no longer using single-use batteries because you don't want to generate unnecessary waste. Not everyone will pick up on that, but some will. And those that do may choose to follow your example.
We are in that time of year when we all spend more hours outside. That means we will be taking some electronic devices with us. In anticipation of that, we urge you to make this summer the summer you say goodbye to single-use batteries a replace them with USB-C rechargeable cells from Pale Blue Earth.
